Let’s face it, going to the jeweler to have a ring or necklace cleaned is not too high on the priority list. Jewelry is a beautiful thing; it’s almost a shame to neglect it when a simple cleaning is all that is necessary to restore it to its glistening beauty.

Cleaning rings in homemade jewelry cleaner solution.

This post was originally published on April 29, 2019

So whether you need to clean a diamond ring, a gold chain, or sterling silver, there is a cleaner here for you.

I am not a big jewelry girl, and with the exception of my wedding and engagement rings, I don’t wear anything else on a regular basis.

And my rings stay on if I’m in the garden, in the kitchen, while I’m cleaning, and any other scenario that may cloud the diamonds, or dull out the glistening bands.

For the first one or two cleanings, I took my rings to the jewelers to have them cleaned, but I just can’t seem to find time for that anymore. So that is when I decided to make my own DIY jewelry cleaner that is simple to make and works great!

I still make the yearly trek out to have the rings inspected, but the cleaning? I can now take care of that whenever I want!

Table of Contents

How to clean jewelry at home

Two diamond rings after being cleaned by a diy ring cleaner and drying on a wooden box.

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How to clean diamond rings at home

Give your diamonds or rubies the glistening shine they once had. No one wants a dull gemstone, and now you don’t have to with this simple diamond cleaning hack.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup warm water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 drops of lemon essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and mix well.
Soak the jewelry in the solution for 5 minutes.
Scrub gently with a soft bristle brush.
Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Pearls and porous stones

Special care must be taken when cleaning pearls and porous stones. Generally, a mild soap is enough to remove any dirt, grime, or smudges.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup warm water
1/4 teaspoon mild soap (I use unscented castile soap.)

INSTRUCTIONS

Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and mix well.
Dip a lint-free towel into the mixture and gently wipe the stones clean.
Rinse with cool water and pat dry.

Precious metals – gold and silver

Precious metals like gold and silver are often best cleaned using a simple soap and water mixture. Scrub the gold or silver with a soft cloth and pat dry. This is one of the best ways to clean silver jewelry and gold.

How to clean gold:

It’s been said that real gold does not tarnish. But, almost all gold jewelry is mixed with other metals and as a result, some minor tarnishing may occur. The method below is nothing revolutionary but is a safe, effective way to clean gold.

Soak any gold pieces in warm water with a touch of mild dish soap.
Rinse off, then wipe clean with a soft rag. (an old tee shirt works well too)
For jewelry with small stones or crevices, try using a soft bristle brush like a toothbrush for the hard-to-reach areas.

Occasionally silver may become tarnished, though it is most common in real silverware; tarnished silver jewelry will require more than a little soap and water.

How to clean tarnished silver:

Line a small bowl with aluminum foil. (I have done it without the aluminum foil, and it still worked, but the two pieces of silver I had to test only had very little tarnish anyway)
Fill the bowl with hot water, vinegar, and baking soda. I used about 1/8 cup each of water and vinegar with 1 tsp of baking soda.
Place the silver in the solution for about 5 minutes, remove and buff dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
Follow up with silver polish.

Cleaning costume jewelry – fake jewelry

Costume jewelry, or fashion jewelry, as it is often referred to as is any jewelry not made from precious metals.

I use mild dish soap to clean all fashion jewelry. Avoid strong detergents with ingredients like phosphates which have been known to be too abrasive on fake jewelry, causing potentially more harm than good.

Soak jewelry in warm water with a touch of soap.
Wipe or scrub clean with a cloth or brush.
Rinse off any leftover soap residue and pat dry.

A clean, diamond ring with a white gold band on the ring finger.

How often should I clean my jewelry

This really depends on how often you wear it and how dirty it gets. Now that you know how to clean jewelry at home, it’s easier than ever to keep your jewelry looking fresh and clean.

I’ll usually clean my rings every couple of weeks. Remember, soap residue, lotions, and body oils can all contribute to a lackluster appearance.

A DIY jewelry cleaner with 3 rings on a wooden cleaner box.

Homemade jewelry cleaner ingredients

Vinegar

White vinegar is a popular natural cleaner. Soaking the jewelry piece in vinegar will help to loosen dirt, grime and take it from dull to shine in minutes.

Because of the acidic level, you need to be careful with vinegar. Most precious metals are safe to clean with vinegar, while fashion jewelry, in many cases, is not.

Mild soap

A simple mild soap is often the best way to clean your jewelry at home. Castile soap, dawn, or other mild soaps should not harm jewelry.

Holding cut diamond ring while cleaning with soap.

Wrapping up

Everyday jewelry tips

Lotions, body oils and dirt are among the most common culprits of dirty jewelry.

Most fine and fashion jewelry can be cleaned with a simple warm water and soap solution.

DO NOT soak pearls or porous stones in any liquid.

Always use a soft, lint-free, or microfiber cloth when wiping any jewelry.

Scrub brushes can be used on fine jewelry, though care must be taken so as not to damage the metals.

Soft bristle toothbrushes work great for cleaning small crevices.

I hope you were able to find a DIY jewelry cleaner to fit your needs. If you do enjoy making your own cleaning products, be sure to try out some of these popular cleaners below. And lastly, be sure to leave a comment below, letting me know how it worked for you.

DIY Jewelry Cleaner for All Types